Chrtien took to the stage accompanied by the Bachman Turner Overdrive hit "Takin' Care of Business."

"When I first announced my candidacy for the leadership of the Liberal party back in 1984, I said, 'Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a helluva ride,'" he said in his address.

"Well, my friends, it has been a helluva ride."

Chrtien led his Liberals to three successive majority governments and spent 10 years in the prime minister's office. During his 40-year career in politics, he was Canada's first French Canadian finance minister.

As minister responsible for constitutional negotiations, he played an important role in the 1982 patriation of the Constitution.

In his speech to delegates, which was broadcast on television and radio live across Canada, Chrtien reflected back on his years as prime minister.